The MWPA is thrilled (pun intended) to announce the 2018 Crime Wave Flash Fiction Contest. You’re invited to finish Preston’s intriguing opening line—written exclusively for this contest—with your own flash fiction of no more than 500-words.

Every entry to the contest must begin with the line: “On the thirteenth alligator gizzard she opened with her scalpel, out poured a dazzling array of cabochon-cut star sapphires, mingled with mud, grit, and a rotting human finger.” After that, it’s up to you—for a total of no more than 500-words!

★ FIRST PLACE Publication in the Maine Sunday Telegram, plus a full scholarship to attend the 2018 Maine Crime Wave.

★ SECOND PLACE Name announced in the Maine Sunday Telegram, plus a 50% scholarship to attend 2018 Maine Crime Wave.

★ THIRD PLACE Name announced in the Maine Sunday Telegram, plus a 25% scholarship to attend the 2018 Maine Crime Wave.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The competition is open to all Maine residents.*

There is no fee to enter.

Please follow the submission instructions carefully. Incomplete or late applications cannot be considered.

Submit up to 500-words max (including Preston’s opening line, but not your title) as a Word or PDF document via MWPA’s Submittable by clicking HERE.

Submissions will only be accepted online through Submittable. If you do not have a Submittable account, you will be required to register, which is free and requires only your name and email.

Your name and contact information not should appear on your submission (which may be a Word doc or PDF).

Please Note: As the winning entry will be published in the Maine Sunday Telegram, general newspaper standards around cursing, excessive violence, etcetera will be taken into consideration when selecting a winner.

Submissions open February 1, 2018

DeadlineApril 6, 2018

*Employees of MWPA and MaineToday Media, and their families, are not eligible.